Release Blitz + Giveaway: Ridden Hard (Leather and Grit #4) by Jon Keys

Author Jon Keys and Pride Publishing host  today's blitz for new release, Ridden Hard (Leather and Grit #4)! Find out more about the single parents romance and enter in the giveaway to win a A LOVELY GIFT PACKAGE AND GET A FREE EBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR!

Ridden Hard by Jon Keys

Book 4 in the Leather and Grit series

General Release Date: 30th March 2021

Word Count: 52,387
Book Length: NOVEL
Pages: 193

Genres:

CONTEMPORARY
COWBOYS AND WESTERN
EROTIC ROMANCE
GAY
GLBTQI

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Book Description

Seth and Travis are single parents of junior rodeo competitors. Now their lives are changing, and the two men are fighting for their futures and finding love.

Only a few years ago, Travis and Seth began letting their kids compete in the junior rodeo circuit. Seth’s son is working his way through his final season while Travis’ daughter’s interest in her events wanes. No matter what life throws at them, however, their attraction grows, and the two men become closer.

Travis is the latest generation of ranchers, beginning with his great-grandfather who migrated to the area from Mexico. Now years of drought and dwindling cattle markets have him questioning how long he can keep the ranch afloat. Seth is a city boy by rearing but a cowboy by heart, and when he loses his marketing job, he and his daughter move in with Travis and his son to save money. Keeping their relationship platonic seemed to be a good idea years ago, but sharing a bedroom now reveals the men’s need to revisit that arrangement.

Both Travis and Seth are invested in not only seeing their children succeed but also having their own dreams come true. Unfortunately, even the elements are high on the list of hurdles stacking up against them.

Excerpt

Seth sat on the bleachers in the scorching Texas sun, which made him feel like an overcooked piece of beef. But the day’s brutal heat was far from his primary concern. What made his legs tremble and shake like an alcoholic at the end of a three-day bender? That would be the frenzy of the rodeo arena located only a few dozen feet away. The clang of metal against metal had become part of the symphony he lived for every summer weekend. Yes, that was the source of the uproar, but the cause was the two-thousand-pound bull trying to break free of its narrow confines.

Anyone who witnessed the scene before him understood. Seth’s distilled emotions weren’t over the animal itself but the seventeen-year-old cowboy who would shortly be fighting to stay on for eight agonizing seconds.

To put the cherry on the stress sundae, the bull rider who would be trying to keep his seat was…his son.

His friend Travis slid onto the bench beside him. He turned to Seth with a smile. “Zane’s having a good run. He drew his bull from one of the best stock operations on the circuit. He should build up some points this round.”

Seth studied Travis briefly then shrugged. “I know. We’ve been doing this since he was big enough to throw his leg over the sheep they ride in the mutton-busting competition. But the lambs have morphed into huge ugly bulls who live to break every bone in Zane’s body. It’s been the same for years, but somehow, with each rodeo it’s more of my focus,” Seth said.

“Well, every rodeo puts you nearer to your goal of Zane winning the scholarship he needs to pay for his college education. I can’t seem to get my Amy too excited about anything since my divorce from her mother was finalized.”

Seth’s glance at his friend revealed a troubling change from his typical smart-ass attitude as Travis became lost in his thoughts. The arrangement they had reached years ago when both families had begun competing on the junior rodeo circuit was that they would not be more than supportive friends. He and Travis were in agreement that their kids were the focus, not any potential attraction between the two of them.

With a snort from the bull and the ring of metal against metal, Seth’s focus snapped back to Zane as his ride was about to begin.

Zane cocked his head and double-checked his helmet. That was one of Seth’s unbendable rules, that he would wear all the safety equipment possible, starting with the helmet and vest. The bull rider’s dance began when Zane’s head bobbed his readiness and the gate swung open.

The brindle-colored animal with its massive hump paused for a millisecond to identify its targets before exiting the chute with a single jump. Zane stuck his arm in the air like a proud flagpole on Independence Day. The bull filled his part of the contract with leaps and spins Seth would’ve thought impossible. The animal tang of arena rodeo filled Seth’s nostrils. Seth jumped up and down with enough nervous energy to make a hummingbird proud. Then they reached the part of the performance that drove Seth crazy—the other seven seconds of the ride.

He held on to the bleachers with the tenacity of a pack of winter-starved wolves after an elk. The crowd groaned and Seth cringed as Zane swung wide, almost losing his grip. But he knew his son’s determination only grew with each competition driving him closer to his goal. Seth ground his teeth together and held his laser-focus through the spectacle. Seth had heard rodeo cowboys called ‘modern-day gladiators’. Watching his son, he could see where that came from.

They reached the point where Seth wasn’t sure Zane could go any further and the timer went off. It felt like a reprieve from death row.

Seth glanced down just in time to see Zane hit the ground on two feet with his hands thrust above him. That’s when he realized Zane had stopped paying attention to the bull. Bad mistake. In a split second it had turned and taken aim at his son and was lunging forward with a sound like a diesel engine. Some kind of animal vendetta his son hadn’t watched for came to life. Seth wanted to scream, to run into the arena to protect his child, but none of that happened. Zane would have a record-setting shit-fit if he did, and he wouldn’t have to anyway. That situation was the exact reason the bullfighter was in the arena. Even better, today’s was among the best. Seth was confident everything would turn out fine so long as Shane Neri was in charge. He sprinted toward the bull still wearing some of the clown outfit from his earlier entertainment routine, but this was not a performance. This was life-threatening serious, which was what brought people to the rodeo—to see the rider pitted against the bull and become wrapped in the drama of life and death.

The pickup men charged the bull on their muscular quarter horses, forcing it out of the arena while Shane provided a distraction. It took only seconds. Zane ran for the fence and Shane finished his job.

Travis jumped up and down with excitement while his daughter Amy was relieved that her friend had survived another battle against nature, due in part to Shane’s athletic performance.

“It was a fantastic dismount! You can bank on Zane sticking them every time,” said Travis while pounding Seth on the back. He dodged the blow from his muscular friend with a laugh. “He’s showboating and he knows it. This isn’t gymnastics. There are no more points for sticking a dismount. Hell, it’s not even called a dismount. It’s getting off the bull without being hurt.”

“Damn! Did you see that? Shane’s an amazing bullfighter,” Amy said.

“You got that right, I’m glad he was there when we needed him. I’ll help Zane check everything and make sure he can get through his next ride with as few problems as possible,” Seth said.

The other two nodded in agreement and the trio made their way off the scorching aluminum bleachers. People underestimated the cumulative impact the unending parade of rodeos had on the contestants. Most discounted today’s performance as just another county fair event in Texas. But the competition’s points counted toward the state championship—and a college scholarship.

They left in search of Zane and reached the penning area. It didn’t take long before they found him strutting in his leather chaps, swinging his helmet from his hand. He saw Seth and ran to his father, wrapping his arms tight around him.

“Dad, did you see? That bull pulled every trick it had, and I rode right on the edge. It might not have been a perfect ride, but it was a damn good one,” Zane said.

“Zane! Watch your mouth. What would your mother think if she heard you talking like that?”

He calmed down, but only a little. “She would tell me it was okay occasionally. Sometimes you even have to drop a big one.”

He studied his son and formed a slight smile. “Okay. I’ll let you off on that one. She would give you some slack since that was a nasty bull. I’m just glad you’re not hurt.”

About the time he thought the conversation would end, Travis and Amy chimed in.

“That was amazing. There’s no way they won’t give you a scholarship. Who else would be better competing for Texas than Zane Davis?” Amy said.

Travis added to the support. “It was a great ride, Zane…one of your best in the last few weeks. Keep it up and you’ll win that scholarship.”

A smile grew across Seth’s face. “You two are getting carried away. Let’s get the boy in college and have it paid for with no injuries. That’s the basic goal. Once that’s accomplished, we can talk about him taking over the ranch and raising his own kids on it.” He glanced at Zane, uncertain about what he might see on his son’s face at those bits of information.

Travis lifted an eyebrow but resisted any comments about ranch ownership. “Okay, there’s only a few more contestants left before they announce the winners of the senior boys bull riding. Let’s get a Coke, then we’ll see what happens.”

None of the next contestants came close to Zane’s score, and Travis offered to take everyone out to eat if Zane won. Close by was one of the best taqueria trucks, so devouring tacos might be the activity of the night.

But shortly afterward, it was announced that Zane was the winner for his category, and after the cheering subsided, the teenagers clamored for food, especially the kind that might fill a teenage boy. Travis could remember those days when puberty had left him famished most of the time. They found a favorite truck, not tacos but the best corndogs on the fairgrounds. He’d been waiting in line for several minutes when someone called his name. He turned and smiled at a familiar face in the truck waiting to take his order.

“Hey, Cheryl. It’s good to see you. How did you end up making corndogs?”

“Oh, you know how it is. The kids are in college and we retired the old man. I thought it would be a perfect chance for me to earn extra Christmas money. Grandma doesn’t pay well.”

Travis chuckled, “That’s ambitious…doing everything this early.”

“Yup, that’s me. Now, what can I get for you?”

“Well, I have the whole crowd, so hang on.”

“No problem, ready when you are.”

“We need a corndog for Amy. No, scratch that. Amy wants one hotdog with the neon-green relish.” He shook his head. “She loves those things. I don’t get it. A corndog each for Seth and me. Then, for the champion junior bull rider four—yes, count them, four—corndogs with a side of waffle fries coated in chili.”

She finished taking the last of the order and winked at Travis. “Nothing else? A side of beef? Moose?”

Travis chuckled. “Nope. If he wants dessert, I’m sending him back alone.”

She laughed then disappeared to fill his request.

Soon he was being passed two paper bags full of food. He spotted his group where he’d left them, under the awning with a picnic table that Seth had located after Zane and Amy had joined them for refueling.

The closer he got, the more uncertain Travis was that he wanted to deal with the hungry denizens he traveled with. They looked like extras from Shark Week. But as soon as they ate, especially Zane, life would be better.

He pulled his food out of the sack, sat beside Amy and doused his meal with a couple of squirts of ketchup and mustard. The meal lasted only a few minutes before the young ones had eaten everything and wanted more. This time Travis was not as congenial.

“It’s your turn now. There’s plenty of junk food to eat when you get out on the midway. Just watch out for each other, please,” Travis said.

Amy gave him a condescending glance and patted his head. “Father, Father… We’ll be fine. We are not still the little munchkins from your childhood. Cowboys know how to survive.”

“It’s not a joke, Amy. People are different now than they were when I was your age. Back in the old days, we had a quarter for a call and people knocked on your door to use your phone because they’d had a wreck. We let them in because it was the decent thing to do. Nowadays I’m not sure you’d get anybody to let you in their house unless you were dripping blood—and probably not even then.”

“I was just teasing. Sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. I know how that gets your goat,” Amy said.

Zane finished the last of the fries, adding ketchup and homemade hot sauce to the chili. He wiped the remnants from his face and turned to the adults. “We recognize what you guys went through. It’s not like we don’t think about being careful. We’ll watch out for each other.”

Travis was vacillating—and by the look in Seth’s eyes, he was thinking similarly—as to whether their kids were humorous or obnoxious. In the next few moments, Zane and Amy broke into a spontaneous chorus of We Will Survive, and the choice for ‘obnoxious’ was made.

Travis let out a long, exhausted sigh. Why do I keep trying to educate modern-day kids? Though they don’t seem much like kids anymore. A consolation, if there was one, might be that none of the other parents were in any better situation. Travis’ sixteen-year-old girl was wearing him out just as fast as Zane was doing to Seth.

Travis glanced at his watch and waved to their kids. “Go. Have fun. Take care of each other. Yes, I know I’ve told you the same thing a dozen times. Make your parents happy and pretend to listen—and be back here when we told you to be.”

To their surprise, the kids left with hugs and reassurances, even though they sprinted the last fifty feet before disappearing into the midway crowd. Travis watched for a moment, wishing the pair would revert to five-year-olds and come running back to be protected by their fathers. That wasn’t happening, Travis knew, but he was sure Seth wished the same thing.

Seth gave him a crooked smile. “We can hope for their safety, and we’ll have to keep each other sane in the meantime. I’m feeling too old for the midway, even if it’s like Disney on Ice.”

Travis smiled and did the two-step for a few feet before motioning Seth ahead of him. “Let’s go through the 4-H and FFA exhibits. We can pretend we aren’t parents with blood, sweat and tears invested in our children’s projects.”

“Sounds like a good idea. Maybe it will give us more perspective.”

Seth nodded and Travis tried not to react to his endearing expression. It was times like these he wished they hadn’t agreed to keep their relationship to just friendship. Travis didn’t think he’d mind exploring something more intimate.

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About the Author

Jon Keys

Jon Keys’ earliest memories revolve around books; with the first ones he can recall reading himself being “The Warlord of Mars” and anything with Tarzan. (The local library wasn’t particularly up to date.) But as puberty set in, he started sneaking his mother’s romance magazines and added the world of romance and erotica to his mix of science fiction, fantasy, Native American, westerns and comic books.

A voracious reader for almost half a century, Jon has only recently begun creating his own flights of fiction for the entertainment of others. Born in the Southwest and now living in the Midwest, Jon has worked as a ranch hand, teacher, computer tech, roughneck, designer, retail clerk, welder, artist, and, yes, pool boy; with interests ranging from kayaking and hunting to painting and cooking, he draws from a wide range of life experiences to create written works that draw the reader in and wrap them in a good story.

You can follow Jon on Twitter and Facebook.

Giveaway

Enter to win a fabulous gift package and get a FREE romance book from the author!

Jon Keys Ridden Hard Giveaway

JON KEYS IS GIVING AWAY THIS FABULOUS PRIZE TO ONE LUCKY WINNER. ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A LOVELY GIFT PACKAGE AND GET A FREE EBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR! Notice: This competition ends on 13TH April 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.

Guest Review: Roughstock Volume 1 and 2 by BA Tortuga

Blind Ride

Jason Scott has everything a bull rider wants—success, money and traveling partner Andy Baxter. When he loses his sight in an accident, he stands to lose it all.

Jason Scott is at the top of the bull riding game, on his way to a winning season. Along with his traveling partner, Andy Baxter, he’s riding hard on the circuit, working around the country with all of the other bull riders and bullfighters, living the good life. The only thing he wishes he had is Bax, but he’s afraid to take the step that would make them more than friends, worried that it will ruin everything.

When a terrible accident leaves Jason unable to see, his whole life goes south. Jason decides to chuck it all, determined to go home and hide at his momma’s ranch. Bax has other ideas. He wants to make sure his best friend doesn’t give up, and he hatches a plan that stuns Jason and makes their friends and family think he’s crazy.

With the help of the other bull riders and a very persistent bull fighter named Coke, Bax convinces Jason to give life one more try. With Jason cautiously learning to hope, and his relationship with Bax going to the next level, life gets pretty complicated. Everyone gets in on the project, from Jason’s strong-willed mother to an entire ranch full of children, all of them working to help Jason do what he loves.



And a Smile

All Coke Pharris wants is for his cowboys to be safe—all of them. When rodeo clown, Dillon, sets to prove that there’s more to the bullfighter, people could get hurt.

It’s Coke Pharris’ job to save bull riders from bulls, and he takes his work very seriously. Which is why he’s devastated when one of his favorite riders gets hurt, and he’s determined to help the young man ride again. Dillon Walsh is the arena entertainer for the bull riding tour, and he wants to help. He also wants Coke, has been admiring the man for a long time. He hasn’t made a move on Coke for fear of messing up their friendship, but when he finds out Coke might feel the same way, Dillon has to try to win Coke over.

Coke thinks he’s too old for Dillon, too beat up and scarred, but he can’t resist when Dillon finally makes a play for him. Dillon is like a wet dream for Coke, and the two of them have a great time getting to know each other better, at least until the danger of their job threatens to come between them. Will Dillon and Coke be able to help their friend and weather the problems that blow their way?



File Gumbo

Beau is riding like the two-time champ that he is, but nothing is assured in the world of bullriding—not happiness, not wealth, and not survival.

Beau is a two-time champion bullrider who is working on his third title. Sam is his long-time lover and traveling partner, who is feeling the sting of having just about the worst season he can remember.

The two of them are on the road together twenty-four-seven, and it’s starting to get to them a little, between the constant injuries Sam faces, and the relentless press that Beau has to put up with.

Add in friends on the circuit who need their help and the fact that they have to hide what they mean to each other, and it’s no wonder that Sam and Beau’s relationship is starting to wear a little from the friction.

When things blow up in their faces, Sam leaves the bullriding tour for a while, but the boys find out they’re far more miserable apart than they are together. Beau and Sam may agree to disagree in order to make peace and help out their friends Jason and Coke, but in the unpredictable world of extreme sports, nothing goes as it’s planned. Can Beau and Sam recover from what just might be the last ride of Sam’s life?

Coke's Clown

How does Dillon take care of Coke when Coke’s destroying himself?

Bullfighter Coke is having a rough time in the Roughstock universe. When his dear friend Sam Bell is injured at the finals of the bull riding season, he takes that and his injuries pretty hard. His very own clown, Dillon, is determined to take care of Coke, which is tough when Coke is usually the one to care for everyone. Coke has a huge secret from his past, though, and, when Dillon digs to discover what it is, the skeletons in Coke’s closet threaten to destroy both men.



Back to Back

Landon knows who he wants, he’s been dreaming about Adam Taggart his whole life. Tag, though? He thinks Landon’s too poor, too young, too wrong to be his.

Landon Gaudet may not be the best bull rider on earth, but he knows that’s where the money is in rodeo. His Cajun heart is more involved with horses, though, and with finding the cowboy he’s been dreaming of all of his relatively short life. Adam Taggart has been around the block more than once, and while he thinks Landon is special, he also thinks the kid deserves better than a safety man with more than his share of notches on the bedpost.

Adam does everything he can to resist Landon, but there’s not a man alive who doesn’t love being loved, so eventually he gives in. Landon can’t believe that Adam is finally with him, that his cowboy has finally come around to his way of thinking. The only problem is that Adam isn’t sure he deserves love, or that he really has any to give. He questions everything from his need for Landon to his family’s assertion that he can do better than a boy from the bayou. Can Landon show Adam that sometimes magic is real, and that all you really need is to have a little faith?



Pulled from All Sides

Balta is all fire and fury, Joa is his haven. What happens when Raul becomes their third?

Joa is an anomaly on the bullriding circuit—he’s Brazilian but grew up in Texas, so he’s not sure where he fits in. Champion Brazilian rider Balta knows just where he wants Joa to be, both in his life and in his bed.

Raul is new to the bullriding circuit and needs their help learning the ropes. From the start, Raul knows that Joa belongs with Balta, but he also knows that Balta’s career is on its way down and the world is ripe for another champion from Brazil.

When Balta decides that Raul is just what he and Joa need to even out the balance of power, they have to find common ground—professionally, publicly and, most importantly, personally.

Publisher's Note: These books were previously released elsewhere. They were revised and reedited for release with Pride Publishing.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

This collection is amazing and I loved every sweaty, dusty second of it. The cowboys are so gorgeously written, so strong and resilient and seeing them meet the yin to their yang is heartwarming in the extreme.

Each story has it’s own challenges and hardships, but the maturity and communication in the men is so refreshing and engaging in romance that I adored it. Not for me the misunderstanding or glaring miscommunication trope, I really prefer to see a relationship develop amongst strong equals, where every person gets their needs met and a smoking hot HEA for everyone. If you love to see a rodeo bull rider getting his happy ever after, then these collections could be for you.

Highly recommended.

I received free copies of the books in exchange for an honest review.

Guest Review: Soft Place to Fall by B.A. Tortuga

Stetson Major and Curtis Traynor are about as opposite as two cowboys can get. Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land he loves in Taos, New Mexico, while Curtis is a rodeo cowboy whose wanderlust never could be tamed.

But now Stetson’s momma is dying of Alzheimer’s, and she can’t remember that Curtis hasn’t been Stetson’s boyfriend for a long time. Curtis’s absence makes her cry, so Stetson swallows his pride and calls his ex-lover.

To Curtis, Stetson is the one who got away, the love of his life. And Momma is his friend, so he’s happy to help out. Yet returning to the ranch stirs up all sorts of feelings that, while buried, never really went away. Still, the rodeo nationals are coming up, and Curtis can’t stay… even if he’s starting to want to, especially to support Stetson when he needs it most.

Stetson and Curtis want to find a place where they both fit, to be there to catch each other when they fall. But family, money problems, and the call of the rodeo circuit might end their second-chance romance before it even gets started.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

This is such a gorgeous bitter-sweet premise for a story, and I fell in love with it from the start. Watching a loved one suffer with dementia is the most cruel thing, but a second chance at love is the most delightful.

My heart was hurting for Stetson and that call to Curtis made me cry like a baby. That Curtis came was such a relief, and that the guys managed to find a way to each other eventually, was so very sweet and lovely.

I’ve never been to a rodeo (it's on my bucket list) but having enjoyed BA’s books, I feel like I have!

This book was a gorgeous gently roller coaster of emotion, hope, despair and joy all mingled in. If you’ve got a soft spot for stubborn cowboys who fall back in love (or realise that they never fell out of love) and cope with whatever comes their way, this might be the perfect book for you.


Highly recommended!

Guest Review: Drawing the Devil (Leather and Grit #1) by Jon Keys

Dustin rides a ton of beef battling to do away with his rider while Shane makes certain the bull doesn’t succeed—and that’s the easiest part of their relationship.

Dustin Lewis is a barely contained twenty-one-year-old bull rider who was disowned by his parents when his father discovered Dustin with another teenage boy. He has spent the time since traveling the rodeo circuit and, after years of honing his skills, he’s in contention to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Shane Rees is a twenty-six-year-old rodeo bullfighter-rodeo clown. While Shane’s family still love their son, they are not pleased with the sexuality they believe he chose. He knows the potential consequences of being gay among the rodeo crowd. As a result, Shane keeps his sexuality a guarded secret. When combined with the scars he’s earned over the years of bullfighting, Shane has little sense of self-worth.

The two meet when Dustin’s draw for the night is Diablo, the same vicious bull that gave Shane his most notable scar. Dustin’s ride ends with him trapped in the rigging as the bull tries to pound him into the arena dust. With a good bit of bravado and nerves that have earned him a reputation among the bull riders, Shane frees Dustin before he is seriously injured. This chance meeting leads them through heartwarming highs and near-crushing lows as they struggle toward their goal of winning the National Finals and maintaining their personal relationship.

Publisher's Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been revised and reedited for release with Pride Publishing.

Reviewer: NeRdyWYRM


Ride 'em Cowboy!

Give me a hot, gay, Bible Belt cowboy. Any. Day. I don't know what it is about these rodeo guys that do it for me but shewwweee. Maybe the lack of book smarts appeals to my robotic gray matter, I'm clueless here, but something about that whole schtick just does it for me. Might be my latent inner Texan, too. You can take the girl out of Texas, but ...

Did Texas even make an appearance in this story? I think so, but honestly, it's irrelevant to the matter at hand. What is that, you say? Well ... Hot. Rodeo. Bull. Riders. Of course! I've got Garth Brooks songs running through my head right now. That's way more important.

It's bulls and blood, it's dust and mud,
it's the roar of a Sunday crowd.
It's the white in his knuckles, the gold in the buckle
he'll win the next go 'round.
It's boots and chaps and cowboy hats,
it's spurs and latigo.
It's the ropes and the reins,
and the joy and the pain, and they call the thing a rodeo.

I've always been a tomboy grubby-muffin. Dirt, mud, blood. Yep. Right up my alley with the dirty boys I guess. This book might have been a little too predictable in some respects when I consider that particular angle. You've got a bullfighter who was mauled by a bull named Diablo and an up-and-coming bull rider who 'draws the devil'. Mean-ass Diablo. That bull was a real fucker, but still, it's a little predictable. Only ... who cares?

Add in the gay with the homophobes on the rodeo circuit, two somewhat relationship-clueless guys trying to make something out of not much in the midst of all that turns into a helluva good story clichés or no clichés.

Shane and Dustin had chemistry. They were hot together. They had hangups, so there's hurt-comfort. There was bad family and good family. Good friends and horrible strangers. The relationship took time to develop and deepen. There were speed bumps along the way. There was action, there were lulls, there was the everyday and the extraordinary. You name it, if you can imagine it in this setting, it's probably in there somewhere.

I loved it. You might, too.

More reviews by NeRdyWYRM can be found on Goodreads here.
Images (when present) may be subject to copyright.
An ARC copy of this title was provided for an honest review.

Re-Release Day Tag Team Review: After the Sunset (Timing #2) by Mary Calmes

Two years after riding off into the sunset with ranch owner Rand Holloway, Stefan Joss has made a tentative peace with his new life, teaching at a community college. But the course of true love never does run smooth. Rand wants him home on the ranch; Stef wants an exit strategy in case Rand ever decides to throw him out. Finally, after recognizing how unfair he's being, Stef makes a commitment, and Rand is over the moon.

When Stef gets the chance to prove his devotion, he doesn’t hesitate—despite the risk to his health—and Rand takes the opportunity to show everyone that sometimes life’s best surprises come after the sunset.

We're baaack!  Did you miss us?

Red and JL here, back for another squeefest a/k/a Best Buddy Read Ever - Part Deux!    This time the emails started flying before we even began to read the book.  So grab a drink and get comfortable 'cause we got a wee bit chatty.

JL:  After the sunset is in!   I'll send it to you in just a sec.

JL:  Oh wait.  You already got it.  When do you want to start?  Right after I finish this?

Though, I must confess... I read the copy I have of the 1st edition immediately after we finished Timing.  No worries though, I'm always up for reading it again.  I like it more than Timing if you can believe that. :)

Red: Gah. I know I need the Crack! I might start tomorrow. I'm planning a day of nothing after yoga in the morning. I need a day after this week.

YOU DID??? I wanted to wait for this version even if there are no changes to it. I love the cover so much. OOH I get to meet Glenn in this right?

Red:  And wait.. better than TIMING?? HOW CAN THAT BE??? Ha.

JL:  LOL! OK, I'll wait until tomorrow to read it.

Red:  Might as well start because I made a pretty lewd noise when I opened this book and saw that cover in my hands. No wonder Rand went out of his mind and everyone wanted Stef because... RAWR and UNF!

JL:  RIGHT?????? mmmm mmmm!

JL:  OHMYGAWD CAN WE START YET????????

No pressure though…

Red:  LOL says the girl who has read it recently???

Yup.  Grabbing lunch and heading to my tower to start.

JL:  No worries!  I didn't feel like doing anything this morning besides fucking around on the interwebz.  So, it's perfect timing  <---see what I did there? Haha

Jenni Lea - 5 hearts

It’s been two years since Stef was swept off his feet at Charlotte’s wedding and he and Rand are settling into their life together on the Red Diamond.  The Red Diamond is growing by leaps and bounds and Stef has finally found his niche as a teacher at the local community college.  But it hasn’t been an easy road they’ve traveled.  They’ve (especially Rand) had to face prejudice and ostracism from the citizens of Winston, Rand’s hometown.  Their bad luck, because the next town over, Hillman, has thrown open the gates and welcomed Rand and all he represents with open arms.

Red:  They did what to Rand  because of Stef? Fuckers. I wouldn't build a school in that town either.

But the deputies are cracking me up!

Oh goodness, "I had thought at first that it was the money he represented that they were responding to, but it was also the man himself." I am moving to Hilman! They know an amazing man when they see one!

JL:  I love the deputies, but I especially love the sheriff.  Have you met him yet?

JL:  Prepare yourself for the classic Calmes Time Jump a/k/a Where Stef Gets ADD and Remembers Something.  For a Whole Chapter.

Red:  LOL I love that explanation. We are going to get TMCSS in this one too right? Like, these two aren't together for most of the book? It's the Calmes way and gives the best reunion sex ever.

JL:  Yep, there's TMCSS in this one.  It's not nearly as bad as when it happened to Jory/Sam or Jin/Logan though.  It doesn't last as long.

Wanna know a secret?  *whispers* I like this better than book one.  In Timing we got to see Rand and Stef FINALLY pull their heads out of their asses and ride off into the sunset as they start the rest of their lives together, whereas in After the Sunset we get to see, well, what happens after that sunset.  I always knew I liked this better but I could never pin down exactly why until this last read.  I think hashing it out with Red helped me to understand just what it was that made me read this even more times than I’ve read the first book.  I figure it’s most likely because I like established relationships.  I’ve been with my husband for twenty years and it’s interesting to me to see other couples who have been together for a while and are still as in love, if not more, as they were at the beginning.  Mary does such a fabulous job of showing us just how much these two love each other.

“What are you doing?” I smiled at him, my own hands on his hot skin, having burrowed up under the T-shirt and flannel one he was wearing over it. The muscles in his jaw corded as he shivered slightly.

“I’m lookin’ at you. Christ , I could look at you every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.”

 They’ve been together for years yet they still can’t seem to get enough of each other.

“Say it now,” I demanded. His lips were on my ear.

“I love you so fucking much, Stef. You belong to me.”

Who knew I would be just as addicted to the man’s words as his actions?

That isn’t to say that they haven’t had their ups and downs though.  Stef had to give up a lot when he relocated to Texas to be with Rand and he has abandonment issues from his worthless family so it’s no surprise that he’s kept part of himself back in case things go south with Rand.  But, he seems to finally be accepting that Rand isn’t going anywhere and the Red Diamond - and Rand - is the home he really wants.  Even if it is in Texas, of all places.

JL:  You know that's how Texans really talk, right?  We say 'gonna' and 'wanna', we drop the 'g' from the end of our words, we speak in double and triple negatives and our mothers are always 'mama'.  I love how she incorporated our way of speaking into her writing.  It makes it feel more authentic to me. And a little bit homesick.

Red:  Nope I had no idea and it's great she did that! I noticed in Bulletproof, when they were in Hawaii she got a lot of the local talk etc down as well. She does really well with that.

I adore the whole Rand LOVING that Stef is finally choosing them. Rand just gets him on every level and is so patient with him, waiting for Stef to see that he isn't leaving or asking him to leave. Just waiting and loving his man and letting him know he is there for the long haul. That shit is romantic!

Stef gets an opportunity to prove his commitment to Rand when family comes calling.  A cousin needs Rand’s help at their ranch for a few days and Rand, being who he is, agrees to lend a hand, not realizing it’s the same weekend that the rodeo is being held.  The very important rodeo that requires the Red Diamond to attend or they lose grazing rights on a prime bit of real estate.

Red:  Okay and take two... GLLLEEENNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JL:  You're about to meet Glenn!  I can't wait to see what your first impression is.

JL:  LOL!  Our emails crossed. :)

Red:  A TEST??? Oh shit. Someone is gonna be pissed when he gets home!

JL:  That is an epic scene, when he gets home.  EPIC!  It's one of my favorite parts of the book.

Red:  I have laughed so much already!

“What are you doing in here?”

“I’m mauling Stef. What’s it look like?”

Poor Glenn! LOL

JL:  See?  Epic!  Now you know why I love that scene so much.

Red:  I can't help but laugh. Rand is just so point blank about it and Stef is all doing his thing while these people, probably his soon to be in-laws of some sort talk shit about the love of his life and think he works for Rand. SMH.

JL:  Mary is big on letting people make assumptions of her MCs.  I've seen it with Jory and Jin.

BTW, Lubbock and Midland are real cities in Texas but Winston and Hillman are not.  Just a fun fact I'm throwing out there. :)

Stef decides to attend the rodeo in Rand’s stead (behind his back of course, cause that’s how Mary rolls) and this is where we really get to see just how much they’ve grown, both as individuals and with each other.  Yes, there are hijinks and shenanigans.  Yes, there’s a dance and a bachelor auction and fights and everyone loves Stef.  This is a Mary Calmes book after all.  But what I loved most was watching Stef interact with Rand’s family and the rodeo community on his own without Rand there.  And I saw him shine.  I saw him become comfortable in his role as co-owner of the Red Diamond, taking charge and getting things done.  I saw him further his relationships  with his ranch hands, letting them get closer to him and not keeping them at arms-length.  

But most of all, I saw his relationship with Rand strengthen and become enriched with not just love, but respect.

“Why didn’t you tell me you missed this rodeo for the last two years?”

“Because it had nothing to do with you or us, so why would I mention it?”

“Rand, I don’t just wanna know about stuff that affects you and me. I wanna know about everything. And I definitely want to know everything about your family.”

"Rand?"

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you need to know everything?”

“Because if I’m really your partner and you want me to stick around, then your family is my family.”

“You know I want you to stick around.”

“Then?” He took a breath.

“Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“Okay my family is your family, asshole.”

They’ve both matured these past two years and the continuation of their story in this book is one for the ages.  Every time I read this story I find myself believing in the world again, believing that there really is true love out there, that there really is such a thing as soulmates.  Cause that’s what Rand and Stef are.  They are the world to each other.  They are each other’s EVERYTHING.

“You’re my whole life.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Sara - 5 hearts

Wow. So this may possibly be even better than the first book and I can’t believe I am saying that. Seeing Stef and Rand this way was like a hug to my hopeless romantic heart and I don’t think I will ever get enough of them. I am so glad I had my girl Jenni Lea on hand once again to squee, laugh, hold my hand and fall in love with these two as a now established couple.

TWO YEARS ago, Rand Holloway and I had gone from enemies to lovers in sizzling style over the course of his sister Charlotte Holloway’s four-day wedding blowout.

This begins about two years after we left Stefan and his gorgeous cowboy settling down and setting up a life together. It’s not all roses and rainbows with the men though as they are both strong willed and head over heels in love with one another and that is something so very tangible in this book. With all Mary Calmes books actually. Stefan’s job in acquisitions has fizzled and he falls back on his minor to teach history at a local community college. It was great to have Rand along to help him move into his new office and all that happens there and after will make you squirm and swoon your ass off. It’s impossible not to when you have Rand being so open and honest with his feelings and just wanting to lick the hell out of his boyfriend.

Now I know this version has a spanking new cover that I cannot stop staring at because it has the appeal of Stef and when you look at the cover, you get why EVERYONE wants him.  But as I began to read this story, I realized how perfect the original cover was right down to the tear on the back of the jersey bearing the number 7. It was bittersweet to see that cover replaced and then I went back to this new one and *fans self* I was okay because Stefan Joss is one helluva gorgeous man.

Red:  Daww. the old cover makes sense now. He's wearing Rands shirt, which Rand thinks is so fucking hot and I think they are gonna have the sex on the desk in Stef's office.

JL:  Yep yep!  I really loved the cover for this one and I was upset when I heard it was being redone... until I saw the new cover.  Lawd! *fans self*

Red: :  Shut up! this is totally the old cover now as they walk on the tracks! That cover was so sweet even though I constantly grunt at the new one because it's hot.

AND OH MY GAWD! Desk. Sex. Was. So. Fucking. Hot. 

JL:   I TOLD YOU THAT YOU WOULD LOVE THE DESK SEX!  I thought you would get a kick out of Stef working at a college now too. :)

Red:  I love it all. 

I am crying laughing at this though:

You’re gonna have grass plastered to your ass.” 

“I only care about your ass, Stef,” he said, his voice a deep rumble in his chest. 

“Now ride your cowboy.” 

I shook my head. “That’s so cheesy.”

Rand is ridiculous and sexy all at the same time. 

JL:  I love how she makes her characters so relatable.  I could totally see my husband saying something silly like that. 

Red:   She really does. Some of it is way over the top but at the root of it all, it's relatable.

Running was easy; staying was hard.

I have dubbed what the author does to her couples in a series as TMCSS, which stands for The Mary Calmes Separation Stipulation. It seems to be how the author does her couples once they fall in love, she separates them in the next book and while that used to bug the hell out of me, it gave me a huge “A-ha” moment with Rand and Stefan. You see, to be on your own is tough but it shows strength of character and trust in your partner to do it.  Sure both Rand and Stef want to be with each other but the circumstances prevented it and at the end of this book, it brought them closer with a deeper understanding of the man they love.  Rand gets how Stefan sees the ranch, as Rand and Stef sees that Rand doesn't sweat the petty shit like grazing land or making his mom uncomfortable about secrets she hasn’t shared. The separation not only makes the heart grow fonder, it makes the reunion ridiculously sexy and intimate and oh so romantic and makes the men much stronger as individuals and as a couple, as partners. So while they may be apart for a portion of the book, it’s what makes them a truly memorable romance.

Red:  This book has a different feel to it and it should. I guess that's why I am not emailing as much. The romance is so strong and I had a total A-HA moment this morning in the shower about TMCSS and how brilliant it actually is though it's maddening to have people this in love apart at all.

JL:  Yes, and have you noticed she never does TMCSS in the first book?  Only in subsequent books after she's hooked you in on the relationship.

Red: Yup. I noticed and I get it though. She gives you the HEA in the first book but makes the couple work to keep it and that is the separation. It's this thing while they are a part that makes it clear that they love each other so much, they want and need one another but without being who they are on their own, they don't make sense together.

There is so much character development during TMCSS that you miss if you just focus on the fact that they aren't together physically.  

 And while this is newer version, it’s really the next book that finally got me to read the series that had been waiting forever for me to get to. I know that As the Dust Settles is a book about Glenn Holloway and I knew that once I met Glenn in this book, he would have a lot of ‘splaining to do and oh boy did he ever. Glenn broke my heart a few times but the last time, a simple declaration to Stefan on the porch of the house on the Red Diamond Ranch gutted me. I know what he wants and I cannot wait to see him want it, fight for it and get to keep it.
  

I don’t mean to sound ignorant, and I ain’t sayin’ you’re a woman, but with us, with the men, your regard is softer than Rand Holloway’s, and I suspect that’s why you balance him out.

 But back to Rand and Stefan. Things happen that separate them and this thing was actually fun to watch. We really get to see Stef come into his own about the ranch and the man who is the ranch. We meet come truly despicable characters, see Stefan win over the majority and get a type of family relevance I wasn’t expecting. We see the men who work for at the Red Diamond Ranch see Stefan as a true partner to their boss and we get a whole lot of Bella, Stefan’s adorable and protective Rhodesian Ridgeback. I could write for days what I loved about this and never say enough. There is also a lot I don’t want to spoil because it’s so much fun to experience it firsthand so…

Red:  Yup and I adore Bella.  She's Stef's armor.  Once again,  Mary creates a fierce and loyal female... Even if it's a dog.

JL:  God, I love that dog!  Makes me want to go out and get one.  But then I remember I live in a townhome and have no room. :(

Red:  Okay, Rhodesian Ridgebacks were my dream dog when I was in high school. I saw one when I took my Basset Hound to the vet. They are gorgeous and sleek and that strip of fur growing up their back the opposite way killed me. It was always like that part of them needed to buck the system.

Red:  Oh and I am reading while making dinner because HOW CAN I STOP?

JL:   I had to Google them because I'd never seen one and, wow, they're beautiful!  I kinda want one now.    

I’ll stop before I fangirl my butt off.

This book really shows how wonderful Rand is as the alpha hero and that he is pretty damn funny too! It shows exactly who Rand is and that love, loyalty and devotion are what drives him to be the best for those he loves in return. It shows that Stefan finally has both feet in the same place and trusts in everything Rand has to offer. I could keep going on but I will stop rambling, tuck these two away under precious and sexy AF in my heart and soul and sit on my hands until I get Glenn’s book. 

JL:  HOORAY! !!!!!!!!

YOU LIKED THIS BETTER TOO!!!!!!

I thought I was the only one!

I love your review.  You've said exactly what I've been feeling but didn't know how to express.

This just proves that we're twins

Red:  Yeah, I kept thinking it was better and then realized it was. I loved Rand's exploration and finalization of wanting Stefan but this was so good and so much about all of them. It really does set it up nice for Glenn's book two. I think he is going to hurt me like Aaron did with Parting Shot, you know? Ugh.

We are totally twins. We share brains all the across the US!

JL:  Lol that we do.

And because we are nuts and nothing is off limits...

Red:  Off topic: what is the right word for self lubricating holes with Omega's in shifter books? LOL

JL:  OMG!  That is the best question ever!  LOL!

Ok, but seriously.  I have no idea.  I didn't know there was a specific word for it.

Red:  Just making sure if there was so I don't look a total noob when I talk about it.

JL:  Nope, you're good.  Just don't use words like 'channel' or 'fluttering hole' and you're golden.

 

 Find it at Dreamspinner Press or on Goodreads!

For those of you who missed our  fangirl sesh of book one in the Timing series, you can check it out right here.